Process for breaking petroleum emulsions



Kelser,

Petrolite Corporation,

Groote, Unive Webster Groves, Md,

LttL, Wilmington,

2,295,166 PROCESS FOR BREAKING PETROLEUM ESIONS rsity tlity, and Bernhard assignors Deb, a

corporation of Delaware No Drawings Application March 21, 1941, erial No. 384,53

Claims. (on. 252 -3-40) This invention relates primarily to the resolution of petroleum emulsions.

The main object of our invention is to provide a novel process for resolving petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, that are commonly referred to as cut oil, roily oil," emulsified oil, etc., and which comprise fine droplets of naturally-occurring waters or brines dispersed in a more or less permanent state throughout the oil which constitutes the continuous phase of the emulsion.

Another object is to-provide an economical and rapid process for separating emulsions which have been prepared under controlled conditions from mineral oil, such as crude petroleum and relatively soft waters or weak brines. Controlled emulsification and subsequent demulsification under the conditions just mentioned is of significant value in removing impurities, particularly inorganic salts, from pipeline oil.

The new chemical compound or composition of matter herein described, which is used as the demulsifier in our for resolving petroleum emulsions, is exemplified by the acidic, or preferably, neutral ester derived by complete esterification of one mole of a polyalkylene glycol of the kind hereinafter described, with a fractional ester derived from a hydroxylated material of the kind herein described, and a polybasic carboxy acid having not over six carbon atoms.

If a hydroxylated material, indicated for the sake of convenience, by the formula T.OH, is reacted with a polybasic carboxy acid, which, similarly, may conveniently be indicated as being of the dibasic type, by the formula HOOC.D.COOH

then the fractional ester obtained by reaction between equimolar quantities may be indicated by the following formula:

in which m varies from 7 through 17.

Instead of polyethylene glycols, one may use polypropylene glycols or polybutylene glycols. Thus, for convenience, in the broadest aspect, the

heptaethylene polyalkylene glycols employed may be indicated by the following formula:

OH (CnHZnO) mH in which m has its previous significance and n represents a numeral varying from 2 to 4.

Thus, the bulk of the demulsifying materials herein described, may be indicated within certain variations, as hereinafter stated, by the neutral ester derived by esterification of one mole of a glycol of the kind above of a fractional ester of the kind previously described. The formation of the compound may be indicated by the following reaction, although obviously, it is immaterial what particular procedure is employed to produce the particular chemical compound or product:

As indicated previously, the polybasic acids employed are limited to the type than six carbon atoms, for example, oxalic, malonic, succinic, glutaric, and adipic. Similarly, one may employ acids such as fumaric, maleic, glutaconic, and various others, including citric, malic, tartaric, and the like. The selection of the particular tribasic or dibasic acid employed is usually concerned largely with convenience of manufacture of the finished ester, and also of the price of the reactance. Generally speaking, the higher the temperature employed, the easier it is to obtain large yields of the esterifled product. Although oxalic acid is compara-.

tively cheap, it decomposes somewhat readily at slightly above the boiling point of water. For this reason, it is more desirable to use an acid which is more resistant to pyrolysis. Similarly, when a polybasic acid is available in the form of an anhydride, such anhydride is apt to produce the ester with greater ease than the acid itself. For this reason, maleic anhydride is particularly adaptable; and also, everything else considered, the cost is comparatively low on a per molar basis, even though somewhat higher on a per pound basis. Succinic acid or the anhydride has many of the attractive qualities of maleic anhydride; and this is also true of adipic acid. For purposes of brevity, the bulk of the compounds hereinafter illustrated will refer to the use of maleic anhydride, although it is understood that any other suitable polybasic acid may be employed. Furthermore, for purposes of convenience, reference is made to the use of polyethyldescribed, with two moles having not more ene glycols. As has been previously indicated, such glycols can be replaced by suitable polypropylene or polybutylene compounds.

As far as the range of oxyalkylated compounds employed as reactants is concerned, it is our preference to employ those having approximately 8-12 oxyalkylene groups, particularly 8-12 oxyethylene groups. The preference to use the oxyethylated compounds is due largely to the fact that they are commercially available, and particularly so in two desirable forms. The most desirable form is the so-called nonaethylene glycol, which, although consisting nonaethylene glycol, may contain small amounts of heytaethylene and octaethylene glycols, and

largely of possibly, minor percentages of the higher homologs. Such glycols represent the upper range of distillable glycols; and they may be conveniently referred to as upper distillable ethylene glycols. There is no particularly good procedure for mak ing a sharper separation on a commercial scale; and it is understood that mixtures of one or more of the glycols may be employed, as well as a single glycol. As pointed out, it is particularly preferred to employ nonaethylene glycol as commercially available, although it is understood that this product contains other homologs as indicated.

Substantially as desirable as the upper distillable polyethylene glycols, are the lower nondistillable polyethylene glycols. These materials are available in the form of a waxy water-soluble material, and the general range may vary somewhat from decato tetradecaethylene glycol. As is well understood, the method of producing such glycols would cause some higher homologs to be formed; and thus, even in this instance there may be present some oxy-ethylene glycols within the higher range above indicated. One need not point out that these particular compounds consist of mixtures, and that in some instances, particularly'desirable esters, are obtained by making mixtures Of the liquid nonaethylene glycol with the soft, waxy, lower non-distillable polyethylene glycols. For the sake of convenience,

reference in the examples will be to nonaethylene 4 glycol and calculations will be based on a theoretical molecular weight of 414. Actually, in manufacture, the molecular weight of the glycol employed, whether a higher distillable polyethylene glycol, or a lower non-distillable polyethys lene glycol, or a mixture of the same, should be determined and reaction conducted on the basis of such determination, particularly in conjunction with the hydroxyl or acetyl value,

It has been previously pointed out that it is immaterial how the compounds herein contemplated are manufactured, although we have found it most desirable to react the selected glycol or mixtures of glycols with maleic anhydride,

in a ratio of two moles of the anhydride for one mole of the glycol. Under such circumstances we have found little tendency to form longer chain polymers; and in fact, the product of reaction, if conducted at reasonably low temperatures, appears to be largely monomeric. For convenience, such intermediate product be considered as mole of the polyethylene glycol, there is no possibilityfor the formation of polymeric types of 76 esterification product under ordinary COI1diti( The alcoholic compounds employed as actants in the manufacture of the new cc pounds or reagents herein described, are ma rials conveniently referred to as hydroxyla high molal esters of monohydric alcohols. Tl are invariably water-insoluble. They contain least 11 carbon atoms, and may contain as ma as 48 carbon atoms. They usually contain 01 one hydroxyl group, as, for example, when c rived from ricinoleic acid, but in some instanc as, for example, when derived from dihydrox acyl radical of the ester, a1 cannot be part of the alcohol residue, in contr: distinction to esters 0f the kind exemplified I monoolein, monostearin, etc.

Although the hydroxylated ester employed 2 a reactant in the manufacture of the compounc herein contemplated is water-insoluble, suc ester may be derived from a water-soluble c water-insoluble acid and from a water-solubl or water-insoluble alcohol, Generally speaking such water-insoluble esters are obtained by th use of either-a water-insoluble acid, or a water insoluble alcohol as a secondary raw materia for producing the ester. For instance, ethyl al cohol (a water-soluble alcohol), may be esterifiei with ricinoleic acid (a water-insoluble acid) tr produce water-insoluble ethyl ricinoleate. Similarly, water-insoluble cetyl alcohol can be reacted with water-soluble lactic acid to produce the Water-insoluble cetyl lactate. It is also obvious that the monohydric ether alcohols will function in the same manner as an alcohol, and thu may be employed in the production of the esters.

Briefly, then, the water-soluble alcohols or alcohol ethers, which serve as, secondary raw materials for esterification to produce the waterinsoluble esters, include ethylene glycol monomethyl ether; ethylene glycol monoethyl ether; ethylene glycol monobutyl ether; ethylene glycol normal butyl alcohol; methyl isobutyl carbinol; 2-ethyl butyl alcohol; normal hexyl alcohol; various isomeric amyl alcohols and mixtures thereof, etc. Other alcohols, not necessarily water-soluble, include 4-tertiary amyl cyclohexanol; 2,4-diamyl cyclohexanol; p-tertiary amyl ethanol; ditertiary amylphenoxy ethanol; methylarnyl carbinol; octyl alcohol; 5-ethylnonanol-2; 7-ethyl-2-methyl undecanol-4; 3,9-diethyl tridecanol-6.

R.COOH- RCH2OH R.COH in the above instance may represent any detergent-forming acid, i. e., any of a number of monocarboxy acids having more than 9 and not over 32 carbon atoms, and characterized by the fact that they combine with alkalies such as caustic soda, caustic potash, ammonia, triethanolamine, and the like, to produce soap or soap-like materials. The best examples are, of course, the higher fatty acids, such as oleic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, etc. In addition to the higher fatty acids, other well known members include resinic acids, abietic acids, naphthenic acids, and acids obtained by the oxidation of petroleum hydrocarbons, and commonly referred to as oxidized wax acids. Generally speaking, the higher fatty acids are apt to contain from 12-14 carbon atoms as a'lower limit, and from 18-22 carbon atoms as an upper limit. Oxidized waxes may contain as many as 30 or 32 carbon atoms. These various acids, when unsaturated, may be totally or partially hydrogenated, and then converted into the corresponding alcohol.

The commonest use of high molal alcohols has been their conversion into sulfates or sulfonates. As to patents which specifically enumerate high molal alcohols applicable for use as reactants in. the manufacture of the present compound,,,see the following: U.S. Patents No. 2,110,848, dated -Mar. 8, 1938, to De Groote; 2,181,172, dated Oct. 4, 1932, to Daimler et al.; 1,916,776, dated July 4, 1938, to Steindorfi et al.; 2,106,242 and 2,106,243, dated Jan. 25, 1938, to De Groote et al.; 2,110,847, dated Mar. 8, 1938, to De Groote; 2,000,994, dated May 14, 1935, to Schrauth; 2,061,617, 2,061,618, 2,061,619, and 2,061,620, dated Nov. 24, 1936, to Downing et al.; 2,171,117, dated Aug. 29, 1939, to Schrauth; 2,187,338 and 2,187,339, dated Jan. 16, 1940, to Werntz; 1,917,255, dated July 11, 1933, to Harris; 2,170,380, dated Aug. 22, 1939, to Holsten, and 1,966,187, dated July 10, 1934, to Schirm.

Chemically, it is to be noted that these alcohols represent more than one type, i. e., they include aliphatic, alicyclic, aralkyl, etc. Particularly of interest are those derived from naphthenic acids, oxidized wax acids, and by the total or partial hydrogenation of high molal aromatic alcohols or equivalent procedure. Branched chain alcohols are, of course, included. Any of the various high molal, water-insoluble alcohols occurring naturally in waxes in combined form, may be employed.

As specific examples,-mention maybe made of the following alcohols: Decyl, undecyl, dodecyi, tetradecyl, octadecyl, cetyl, oleyl, cholesterol, glycols of high molecular weight of the type exemplified by octadecane diol, octamethyl glycol, decamethyl glycol, and also alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, or aryl ethers of the difierent polyhydric alcohols, such as, for example, the cresylic, phenylic, benzylic, cyclohexylic, or'naphthylic ethers of glycol or glycerol. Similarly, derivatives of diphenyl, such as hydroxy diphenyl and the hydroaromatic homologs, are suitable.

The hydroxy acids, as has been suggested, may be conveniently divided into the water-soluble, low molal type, and the water-insoluble, high molal type. The water-soluble type may be exemplified by glycolic acids, lactic acid, hydroxy butyric acid, etc.

The high molal alcohol acids, 1. e., ,the high 'molal hydroxy acids, are invariably water-insoluble.

The commonest example is ricinoleic acid.

- ferred to as hydroxylated wax acids.

Other hydroxy fatty acids include hydroxystearic acid, dihydroxystearic acid, diricinoleic acid,

aleuritic acid, and the like. Similar acids are obtained in the oxidation of paraflin, petroleum hydrocarbon, or wax, and are commonly re- Hydroxylated wax acids occur as by-products in the oxidation of waxes or similar materials, and are usually separated so that the commonest commercial form of oxidized wax mixtures comparatively free from the hydroxylated compounds. Hydroxylated acids are produced by other procedures, such as chlorination,

either by addition or substitution, as, for example, chlorination of oleic acid or stearic acid. Subsequent reactions involve the removal of the chlorine with the introduction of a hydroxyl radical. Undecylenic acid, derived from castor oil, has been converted into a hydroxy undecenoic acid. Unsaturated hydroxy acids, such as ricinoleic acid, may be treated in various manners, so as to produce derivatives, for example, chlorinated or brominated ricinoleic acid. Such materials are entirely satisfactory for use as reactants in the preparation of materials of the kind herein contemplated. Naturally occurring naphthenic acids can also be converted into hydroxylated products by following similar pro-. cedure. ricinoleic acid, can be converted into a hydroxylated arylstearic acid. Such procedure contemplates reactions such as those involving ricinoleic acid, benzene, and aluminum chloride in large excess, or involves the desulfonation of a sulfoaromatic fatty acid. In any event, by employing derivatives of undecylenic acid, or one or more of the various wax acids, naturally-occurring naphthenic acid, ricinoleic acid, diricinoleic acid, or derivatives thereof, as have been enumerated, one can obtain a variety of hydroxylated monocarboxy acids, having at least 11 carbon atoms and not in excess of 36 carbon atoms. Such compounds are the kindherein contemplated as reactants to furnish the alcoholiform hydroxy].

Hydroxy acids of the kind herein contemplated may also be prepared by the hydrolysis of alphahalogen acids. For instance, alpha-bromocaproic acid, alpha-bromocaprylic acid, alpha-bromocapric acid, alpha-bromolauric acid, alpha-bromomyristio acid, alpha-bromopalmitic acid, and the like, can be hydrolyzed to give the corresponding alpha-hydroxy acid. Indeed, a reactive alpha-halogen acid may serve as a functional equivalent of an alpha-hydroxy acid by liberation of hydrochloric acid, instead of water. Such type of reaction, however, involves numerous difficulties; and thus, it is better to employ a hydroxy acid.

In some instances derivatives of hydroxylated unsaturated acids are most readily obtained by the employment of an intermediate in which the hydroxyl group is protected. Thus, ricinoleic acid may be acetylated, and such acetyl ricinoleio acid converted into a derivative, for instance,

acids represent An unsaturated hydroxy acid, such as,

larly as a constituent of hydraulic brake fluids. In the manufacture of esters in which there is considerable carbon atom interruption between the carboxyl group and the hydroxyl group, for instance, ricinoleic acid, as compared with lactic acid, one can produce the esters in the same manner employed to produce the corresponding esters of non-hydroxylated fatty acids, for instance, procedures employed in the manufacture of methyl oleate, butyl oleate, methyl stearate, butyl naphthenate, etc. Such procedures result in the formation of some polyricinoleic acids, and possibly esters of polyricinoleic acids. Naturally, the esters of polyricinoleic acids may be employed in the present process, for instance, a methyl ester of diricinoleic acid, or similar materials.

As to the manufacture of various esters of the kind herein described, attention is directed to the following United States patents, to Wit: No. 1,160,595, dated Nov. 16, 1915, to Gruter et alj 2,221,674, dated Nov. 12, 1940, to Ellis; and 2,177,407, dated Oct. 24, 1939, to Hansley. See also Organic Syntheses, volume X, page 88.

It is to be noted that one may, for example, produce materials having a fairly wide range, as far as carbon atoms are concerned. For instance, one may employ octyl lactate on one hand,

or else, one might-produce an alcohol having as many as 30 carbon atoms from an oxidized wax acid, and esterify the same with ricinoleic acid.

For all practical purposes, however, the best and most desirable compounds are obtained from the most commonly available esters, i. e., the esters of ricinoleic acid and the lower alcohols of the kind previously enumerated.

Intermediate product, Example 1 Adipic acid is substituted for maleic anhydride in Examples 1-3 preceding.

Intermediate product, Example 5 Oxalic acid is substituted for maleic anhydride in Examples 1-3 preceding.

Intermediate product, Example 6 Citric acid is substituted for maleic anhydride in Examples 1-3 preceding.

Intermediate product, Example 7 Succinic anhydride is substituted for maleic anhydride in Examples 1-'3 preceding.

The method of producing such fractional esters is well known. The general procedure is to employ a temperature above the boiling point of water and below the pyrolytic point of the reactants. The products are mixed and stirred constantly during the heating and esterification step. If desired, an inert gas, such as dried nitrogen or dried carbon dioxide, may be passed through the mixture. Sometimes it is' desirable to add an esteriflcatlon catalyst, such as sulfuric acid, benzene sulfonic acid, or the like. This is the same general procedure as is employed in the manufacture. of ethylene glycol dihydrogen diphthalate. See U. S. Patent No. 2,075,107, dated March 30, 1937, to Frasier.

Sometimes esterification is conducted most readily in the presence of an inert solvent which carries away the water of esterification that may be formed, although, as is readily appreciated, such water of esteriflcation is absent when the reaction involves an acid anhydride, such as meleic anhydride, and a glycol. However, if water is termed, for instance, when citric acid is employed, then a solvent such as xylene may be present and employed to carry oil the water formed. The mixture of xylene vapors and water vapors can be condensed so that the water is separated. The xylene is then returned to the reaction vessel for further circulation. This is a conventional and well known procedure and requires no further elaboration.

Composition of matter, Example 1 One pound mole of the intermediate product of the kind described in Intermediate product, Examples 1, 2 and 3, above, is reacted with two pound moles of methyl ricinoleate until all carboxyl acidity has disappeared. Time of reaction may vary from a few hours to as much as 20' hours.

Composition of matter, Example 2 Ethyl ricinoleate is substituted for methyl ricinoleate in the Preceding example.

Composition oj-'matter, Example 3 Propyl riclnoleate is substituted for methyl ricinoleate in Composition of matter, Example 1.

Composition of matter, Example 4 Butyl ricinoleate is substituted for methyl ricinoleate in Composition of matter, Example 1.

Composition of matter, Example 5 {imyl ricinoleate is substituted for methyl ricmoleate' in Composition of matter, Example 1.

' ricinoleate in Composition of matter, Example 1.

C0mpositi0n of matter, Example 7 Methyl diricinoleate is substituted for methyl ricinoleate in Composition of matter, Example 1.

Composition of matter, Example 8 Ethyl diricinoleate is substituted for methyl ricinoleate in Composition of matter, Example 1.

Compositionof matter, Example 9 Methyl hyd'pxystearate is. substituted for methyl ricinoleate in Composition of matter, Example 1.

Composition of matter, Example 10 Ethyl hydroxystearate is substituted for methyl ricmoleate in Composition of matter, Example 1.

Composition of matter, Example 11 Eutyl hydrostearate is substituted for methyl ricmoleate on Composition of matter, Example 1.

Composition of matter, Example 12 The same procedure is followed as in Compo- ;ition of matter, Examples 1-11, inclusive, except ;hat an intermediate product of the kind exemplified by Intermediate product, Example 4, is ;ubstituted for that in Intermediate product, Examples 1, 2 and 3.

Composition of matter, Example 13 The same procedure is followed as in Composition of matter, Examples 1-11, inclusive, except that an intermediate product of the kind exemplified by Intermediate product, Example 5, is substituted for that in Intermediate product, Examples 1, 2 and 3.

Composition of matter, Example 14 The same procedure is followed as in'Composition of matter, Examples 1-11, inclusive, except that an intermediate product of the kind exemplified by Intermediate product, Example 6, is substituted for that in Intermediate product, Examples 2 and 3.

Composition of matter, Example 15 the esterification reaction in the presence of a non-volatile inert solvent which simply acts as a diluent or viscosity reducer.

In the preceding examples, attention has been directed primarily to the monomeric form, or at least, to the form in which the bifunctional alcohol, i. e., a glycol, and the polyfunctional acid, usually a bifunctional compound, react to give a chain type compound in which the adjacent acid and glycol nucleus occur as a structural unit. For instance, in the monomeric form this may be indicated in the following manner:

acid glycol acid If, however, one prepared an intermediate product employing the ratio of three moles of maleic anhy-dride and two moles of nonaethylene glycol, the tendency would be to produce a product which might be indicated in the following manner:

acid glycol acid glycol acid Similarly, three moles of the glycol and four moles of the acid might tend to give a combination which may be indicated thus:

acid glycol acid glycol acid glycol Another way of stating the matter is that the composition may be indicated in the following manner:

in which the characters have their previous significance and :c is a relatively small whole number less than 10 and probably less than and in the monomeric form x, of course, is l. The limitations on the size of m are probably influenced largely by the fact that reaction leading to furacid of ways which have been suggested by previous manufacturing directions, for instance:

(a) By using a more highly polymerized ethylene glycol; r

(b) By using a polymeric form instead of a monomeric form in regard to the unit which forms the chain between the two alcoholic nuclei;

(c) By using a polybasic carboxy acid of lower molecular weight, for instance, maleic acid instead of adipic acid;

(d) By using an alcoholic material of lower molecular weight, for instance, methyl ricinoleate, instead of butyl diricinoleate.

In any event, it is to be noted that the com pounds of the type herein contemplated are limited to the water-soluble type, i. e., those which are self-emulsifying in water, or produce a sol or a molecular solution.

Actually, a reaction involving an alcohol and an acid (esterification) may permit small amounts of either one or both of the reactants, depending upon the predetermined proportion, to remain in an unreacted state. In the actual preparation of compositions of the kind herein contemplated, any residual acidity can be re moved by any suitable base, for instance, ammonia, triethanolamine, or the like, especially in dilute solution. Naturally, precaution should be taken so that neutralization takes place without saponification or decomposition of the ester. In some cases there is no objection to the presence of the acidic group. Indeed, if a tribasic acid be employed in such a manner as to leave one free carboxyl group, then it is usually desirable to neutralize such group by means of a suitable basic material.

. In the hereto appended claims, reference to .a neutral product refers to one in which free carboxylic radicals are absent.

Conventional demulsifying agents employed in the treatment of oil field emulsions are used as such, or after dilution with any suitable solvent, such as water; petroleum hydrocarbons, such as gasoline, kerosene, stove oil; a coal tar product such as benzene, toluene, xylene, tar acid oil,

cresol, anthracene oil, etc. Alcohols, particularlarly aliphatic alcohols, such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, propyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, hexyl alcohol; octyl alcohol, etc., may be employed as diluents. Miscellaneous solvents, such as pine oil, carbon tetrachloride, sulfur dioxide extract obtained in the refining of petroleum, etc., may be employed as diluents. Similarly, the material or materials herein described may be admixed with one or more of the solvents customarily used in connection with conventional demulsifying agents, provided that such compounds are compatible. They will be compatible with the hydrophile type of solvent in all instances Moreover, said material or materials may be used alone, or in admixture with other suitable well known classes of demulsifying agents. A

It is well known that conventional demulsifying agents may be used in a water-soluble form,

or in an oilsoluble form, or in a form exhibiting both oil and water solubility. Sometimes they may be used in a form which exhibits relatively I limited oil solubility. However, since such reagents are sometimes used in a ratio of 1 to 10,000, or 1 to 20,000, or even 1 to 30,000, such an apparent insolubility in oil and water is not significant, because said reagents undoubtedly have solubility within the concentration employed. This samefact is true in regard to the material or materials herein described, except that they are invariably water-soluble.

We desire to point out that the superiority of the reagent or demulsifying agent contemplated in our herein described process for breaking petroleum emulsions, is based upon its ability to treat certain emulsions more advantageously and at a somewhat lower cost than is possible with other available demulsifiers, or conventional mixtures thereof. It is believed that the particular demulsifying agent or treating agent herein described will find comparatively limited application, so far as the majority of oil field emulsions are concerned; but we have found that such a demulsifying agent has commercial value, as it will economically break or resolve oil field emulsions in a number of cases which cannot be treated as easily or at so low a cost with the demulsifying agents heretofore available.

In practising our improved process for resolving petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, a treating agent or demulsifying agent of the kind above described is brought into contact with or caused to act upon the emulsion to be treated, in any of the various ways, or by any of the various apparatus now generally used to resolve or break petroleum emulsions with a chemical reagent, the above procedure being used either alone, or in combination with other demulsifying procedure, such as the electrical dehydration process. J

The demulsifier herein contemplated may be part of the acyl radical and containing at least 11 and not more than 42' carbon atoms; the polybasic compound being the esterification of (A) a polyalkylene glycol having at least '7 and not more than 17 ether linkages, and the alkylene radical thereof containing at least 2 and not more than 6 carbon atoms; and (B) a polybasic carboxy acid having not more than 6 carbon atoms;

employed in connection with what is commonly known as down-the-hole procedure,-i. e., bringing the demulsifier in contact with the fluids of the well at the bottom of the well, or at some point prior to their emergence. This particular type of application is decidedly feasible when the demulsifier is used in connection with acidification of calcareous oil-bearing strata, especially if suspended in or dissolved in the acid employed for acidification.

It will be apparent to those skilled in'the art that residual carboxyl acidity can be eliminated by esterification with low molal alcohol, for instance, ethyl, methyl, or propyl alcohol, by conventional procedure, so as to give a substantially neutral product. The introduction of such low molal hydrophobe groups does not seriously affect the solubility, and in some instances gives increased resistance, to soluble calcium and magnesium salts, for such property is of particular value. Usually, however, neutralization with a dilute solution of ammonia or the like is just as practicable and less expensive.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A process for breaking petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsifying agent comprising a water-soluble esterification product derived by reaction between one mole of a polybasic compound and two moles of a water-insoluble ester of a monohydric alcohol; said ester having at least one hydroxyl group as and the ratio 01' the esterifying reactants being within the range of more than 1 and not over 2 moles of the polybasic acid for each mole of the glycol.

2. A process for breaking-petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsifying agent comprising a neutral water-soluble esterification product derived by reaction between one mole of a polybasic compound and two moles of a water-insoluble ester of a monohydric alcohol; said ester having at least one hydroxyl group as part of the acyl radical and containing at least 11 and not more than 42 carbon atoms; the polybasic compound being the esterification product of (A) a polyalkylene glycol having at least 7 and not more than 17 ether linkages, and the alkylene radical thereof containing at least 2 and not more than 6 carbon atoms; and (B) a polybasic carboxy acid having not more than 6 carbon atoms, and the ratio of the esterifying reactants being within the range of more than 1 and not o er 2 moles of the polybasic acid for each mole of the glycol.

3. A process for breaking petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsifying agent comprising a neutral water-soluble esterification product derived by reaction between one mole of a dibasic compound and two moles of a water-insoluble ester of a monohydric alcohol; said ester having at least one hydroxyl group as part of the acyl radical and containing at least 11 and not more than 42 carbon atoms; the dibasic compound being the esterification product of (A) a polyalkylene glycol having at least 7 and not more than 17 ether linkages, and the alkylene radical thereof containing at least 2 and not more than 6 carbon atoms; and (B) a dibasic carboxy acid having not more than 6 carbon atoms; and the ratio of the esterifying reactants being within the range of more than 1 and not over 2 moles of the dibasic acid for each mole of the glycol.

4. A process for breaking petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsifying agent comprising a neutral water-soluble esterification product derived by reaction between one mole of a dibasic compound and two moles of a water-insoluble ester of a monohydric alcohol; said ester having at least one hydroxyl group as part of the acyl radical and containing at least 11 and not more than 42 carbon atoms; the dibasic compound being the esterification product of (A) a polyethylene glycol having at least 7 and not more than 17 ether linkages; and (B) a dibasic carboxy' acid having not more than 6 carbon atoms; and the ratio of the esterifying reactants being within the range of more than 1 and not over 2 moles of the dibasic acid fying agent comprising a neutral water-soluble,

esterification product derived by reaction between one mole of a dibasic compound and two moles of a water-insoluble ester of a monohydric alcohol; said ester containing at least 19 and not more than 42 carbon atoms, and in whichlthe acyl radical contains 18 carbon atoms and at least one hydroxyl radical; the dibasic compound being the esterification product of (A) a polyethylene glycol having at least '7 and not more than 17 ether linkages; and (B) a dibasic carboxy acid having not more than 6 carbon atoms; and the ratio of the esterifying reactants being within the range of more than 1 and not over 2 moles of the dibasic acid for each mole of the glycol.

6. A process to breaking petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsiiying agent comprising a neutral water-soluble chemical compound of the following type:

TOOC.D.COO (021-140) mC2H4OOC.D.COO 1 :T

in which T is a radical derived by the dehydroxylation of a water-insoluble ricinoleic acid ester of a monohydric alcohol, in which ester the alcohol group is an alkyl radical having less than 9 carbon atoms; OOC.D.COO is the acid radical derived from a dibasic acid by removal of the acidic hydrogen atoms; said acid radical having not over 6 carbon atoms; m represents a numeral varying from 7 to 12; and :v is a small whole number less than 10.

7. A process cor breaking petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsifying agent comprising a neutral water-soluble chemical compound of the following type:

TOOC.D.COO(C2H40) mC2H4OOC.D.COO.T

in which 'I' is a radical; derived by the dehydroxylation of a water-insoluble ricinoleic acid ester or amonohydric alcohol, in-which ester the alcohol group is an alkyl'radical, ,having less than 9 carbon atoms; OOC.D.C O is-,:-the acid radical derived from a dibasic acid by removal of the acidic hydrogen atoms; said acid radical having not hol group is an alkyl of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsifying agent comprising a neutral water-soluble chemical compound of the following formula type:

in which T is a radical derived by the dehydroxylation of a water-insoluble ricinoleic acid ester of a monohydric alcohol, in which ester the alcohol group is an alkyl radical having less than 9 in which T is a radical derived by the dehydroxylation of a water-insoluble ricinoleic acid ester of a monohydric alcohol, in which ester the alcoradical having less than 9 carbon atoms; OOC.D.COO is the acid radical derived from succinic acid by removal of the acidic hydrogen atoms; and m represents a numeral varying from '7 to 12.

10. A process for breaking petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsifying agent comprising a neutral water-soluble chemical compound of the following formula type:

TOOC.D.COO(C2H4O) mC2H4OOC.D.COO.T

in which T is a radical derived by the dehydroxylation of a water-insoluble ricinoleic acid ester of a monohydric alcohol, hol group is an alkyl radical having less than 9 carbon atoms; OOC.D.COO is the acid radical derived from adipicascid by removal 0d the acidic hydrogen atoms; and 11: represents a numeral varying from (to 12.

MELVIN DE GROO'I'E.

BERNHARD KEISER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,29 ,166.

MELVIN DE GROO'IE, ET AL.

September 8, 1%2.

It is'hereby certified thaterror appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first and that the? said Letters the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent office.

Signed'and sealed this l th day of May, A. D. 1915.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale, v

Acting Commie sioner of Patents in which ester the alco- CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent no, 2,295,166. September 19h2.

MELVIN DE GROOTE, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiringcorrectionas follows: Page 5, first column, line 68, for "(C lm)" read --(C H] 0)- and that the( said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record. of the case in the Pateht Office.

Signed'and sealed this hth day of May, A. D. 1915.

Henry Van Arsdele, (Seai) Acting Commissioherof Patents. 

